VOCATIONAL PROGRAMME LEADING TO AN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL VOCATIONAL DIPLOMA
Natural Resources Programme
Are you interested in animals and or do you love being out in nature? If you want to work with plants, animals, land, water or forests, this is the programme for you.
Video: Video briefly describing the Natural Resources Programme (Runtime: 5:24)
What you will learn in the Natural Resources Programme
In the Natural Resources Programme, you can realize your dreams of working with animals and nature. To thrive in the programme, you need to have a basic interest in at least one area of natural resources. You do not need to have any prior knowledge, because you learn everything during the programme.
The programme develops your ability to use and manage nature. You will gain a greater understanding of nature’s diversity and how various activities affect nature. You will also learn about biology, ecology, engineering and economics.
You will learn to examine and critically reflect on how you can use nature in a sustainable way. You will engage in practical work based on various assignments that you will complete individually or in groups. You will hone your ability to take the initiative, develop new and creative solutions, and learn about the possibilities of running your own business. You will practice planning and implementing tasks and then assessing the results.
The programme places great emphasis on work environment issues, with the aim of avoiding occupational injuries and promoting good health.
Take the opportunity to enrol in this programme! You will gain a great deal of knowledge, including about leadership, as well as many professional contacts. It’s what you make of it. You’ll gain more self-awareness, grow as a person and get to know yourself better.
Elias / a student in the Natural Resources Programme specialising in Nature Tourism
You can start working immediately after graduation or continue your studies. By choosing the right courses, you can fulfil the entry requirements to continue your studies at the university level.
Intended learning outcomes
The intended learning outcomes define what a learner will have acquired and will be able to do upon successfully completing their studies in a particular upper secondary school programme.
The intended learning outcomes for the Natural Resources Programme (skolverket.se).
Programme structure
In the programme structure, you can see which subjects and courses are included in the educational programme. You can also see how many credits are earned for each course.
Programme structure for the Natural Resources Programme (pdf)
External link, opens in new window.
Six different specialisations
Nature Tourism
- You will learn about how natural resources can be managed and made available to visitors and how you can guide their nature experience. The specialisation provides the opportunity to work as a nature guide, sport fishing guide, or a job in hunting and game management or a specialist trade.
Animal care
- You will learn about animals, animal behaviour and the interaction between animals and humans. The specialisation provides the opportunity to work as an animal keeper/caregiver, to work with dogs, or to work in the zoo trade, to give a few examples.
Don’t be afraid to apply, even if you have no farming background! The main thing is that you’re interested and want to learn.
Tilde / a student in the Natural Resources Programme specialising in Animal Care
Horse Husbandry
- You will learn about the horse as a biological being, its behaviour, and the interaction between horses and people. This specialisation provides the opportunity to work as a groom specialising in riding or trotting, to give a few examples.
Agriculture
- You will learn about land, plants, animals, economics, technology and natural resource management. The specialisation provides the opportunity to work in agriculture with a focus on machinery, animals, plant cultivation or rural services.
Forestry
- You will learn about the forest as a sustainable resource and deepen your knowledge of technology and biology. This specialisation provides the opportunity to work as a forest machine operators or forester, to give a couple of examples.
Gardening
- You will learn about soil, plants, plant environments and the importance of gardens in society. This specialisation provides the opportunity to work with, e.g., the maintenance of outdoor environments, horticulture or garden construction.
Diploma project
At the end of the Natural Resources Programme, you must complete a diploma project in your chosen professional field in which you show evidence that you have the ability to perform the most common tasks necessary to start working in the area in which you have received your education.
Learning in a Work Environment
Parts of the educational programme are conducted at one or more workplaces and lasts for a period of at least 15 weeks. These elements are called Learning in a Work Environment (“APL”). This is an important element of your education. APL gives you experience and contacts that may be beneficial when you are looking for a job.
Through your APL in the Natural Resources Programme, you will learn how to apply what you have read about in school. You get to use what you have learned in working life and meet new people.
In the Natural Resources Programme, your APL is your first real contact with working life. Your skills will be put to the test and you will be challenged to learn even more.
Read more about studying abroad
Apprenticeships
If your school offers upper secondary school apprenticeships within the framework of the programme, you can choose to take advantage of this opportunity. This means that you gain the same knowledge but carry out at least half of your studies in one or more workplaces.
Entering the workforce after graduation and examples of career paths
You can start working immediately after completing the programme. Below you will find examples of career paths for graduates, i.e., the professions in which you can look for work after graduating from the programme. Next to each profession is a link to facts about the responsibilities of the position and average wages/salary.
A career path is a suggestion of a profession in which you can work with after graduating from the vocational programme. The professional competence you acquire depends upon the combination of courses you choose within your programme specialisation.
Examples of possible career paths after graduating from the Natural Resource Use Programme
Work with animals – farm animals or dogs, as an animal keeper/caregiver in veterinary care or with a focus on research animals, or as a groom with a focus on riding or trotting.
Work with agricultural crop production or animal husbandry.
Work with agricultural machinery.
Nature guide
Forest machine operator, forest machine service.
Forester
Garden worker specialising in open-field cultivation, outdoor environments, garden construction, or plant cultivation.
Wildlife manager
Further information about the responsibilities of these professions and forecasts regarding the future prospects of each profession can be found in the “Hitta yrken A–Ö” service (“Find a profession, A–Z”).
Search various professions in the “Hitta yrken A–Ö” (“Find a profession, A–Z”) service
Eligibility to continue your studies after graduation
Do you want to continue your studies at a university or other higher education institution after completing the programme? This programme provides you with the general entry requirements for studying at an institution of higher education. After completing the programme, you also have the opportunity to continue your education at a polytechnic or independent adult education college (folkhögskola).
I’m going to get a job now, and continue my studies later. I’ve applied for a veterinary assistant course where you start with small animals and can then study your way up the ladder to work with larger animals. But I figure I have to start somewhere.
Tilde / a student in the Natural Resources Programme specialising in Animal Care